SEHS Exam Day - What to Expect and How to Prepare

What to Bring to the SEHS Exam

Preparation for exam day starts with packing the right things the night before. Forgetting a pencil or admission ticket creates unnecessary stress when your child needs to be focused and calm.

The Exam Day Timeline

Knowing what happens and when reduces uncertainty. Here is a typical exam day from arrival to departure. Times are approximate - check your ACER confirmation for exact start times at your assigned venue.

Tips for Parents on Exam Day

Your child's emotional state on exam day is heavily influenced by yours. Here is what experienced parents recommend.

The Night Before

• Pack everything the night before - admission ticket, pencils, eraser, snacks, water, warm layers. Lay it all out so there is nothing to find in the morning
• Light review only - no heavy cramming. If your child has been preparing for months, one night will not change their ability. It can increase anxiety though
• Early to bed - aim for 9 to 10 hours of sleep. A rested brain performs significantly better than a tired one
• Plan the journey - check the route, parking, public transport times. Build in a 15-minute buffer for unexpected delays

Exam Morning

• Healthy breakfast - protein and complex carbohydrates, not sugar. Eggs on toast, porridge with fruit, or a smoothie. Avoid anything that might upset the stomach
• Stay calm yourself - children absorb parental anxiety. Speak normally, avoid last-minute quizzing, do not say "this is really important". They know
• Arrive early but not too early - 30 to 45 minutes before start time is ideal. Arriving too early means standing around getting nervous

Drop-off

During the Exam

You cannot help during the exam itself. If you are waiting at the venue, resist the urge to compare notes with other parents. Everyone's child is different. Read a book, go for a coffee, or take a walk.

Pick-up

• Do not interrogate - do not ask "how did it go?" the moment they walk out. Let them decompress first. Some children want to talk immediately; others need space
• Acknowledge the effort - regardless of how they feel about their performance, acknowledge that they showed up, sat down and gave it a go. That takes courage
• Plan something nice - a favourite meal, a movie, time with friends. The exam is over. Let them celebrate completing it
• Do not discuss answers - comparing answers with other families creates unnecessary anxiety. The results will come when they come

Managing Exam Anxiety

Some level of nervousness is normal and even helpful - it sharpens focus. But excessive anxiety can hurt performance. If your child struggles with test anxiety, here are strategies that help.

Before the Exam

• Simulate the experience - take SK Mock Tests under timed conditions at a desk, with no distractions. The more familiar the format feels, the less anxious exam day will be
• Practise breathing exercises - 4-7-8 breathing (inhale 4 seconds, hold 7, exhale 8) is a proven technique for calming nerves quickly
• Normalise the experience - talk about the exam as just another test, not a life-defining moment. It is important, but it is not the only path to a great education
• Visit the venue beforehand - if possible, drive past or visit the exam venue before the day so your child knows what the building looks like and where to go

During the Exam

• Start with what you know - beginning with easier questions builds confidence and momentum
• Skip and return - if a question feels impossible, mark it and move on. Coming back with fresh eyes often helps
• Use the breaks - eat, drink, stretch and mentally reset between sections. Do not spend breaks worrying about the previous section
• Watch the clock but do not obsess - check the time every 10 to 15 questions to ensure you are on pace, but do not check every minute

Preparing for Exam Day Through Practice

The most effective way to reduce exam-day nerves is to make the format feel familiar. Students who have completed multiple timed practices sit down on exam day already knowing what to expect.

Start with the FREE SK Diagnostic Test to establish a baseline. Then build section-specific skills with targeted prep modules. As the exam approaches, switch to full timed SK Mock Tests to practise pacing, stamina and transitions between sections.

For writing specifically, the SK Writing Lab helps students practise both persuasive and narrative tasks under timed conditions with instant rubric-based feedback. The SK Writing Coach provides ongoing personalised guidance to build confidence in essay structure and technique.

After the Exam - What Happens Next

Results are typically released in August or September. ACER sends results directly to families. Here is the general timeline:

1. Results released - families receive their child's scaled scores and overall ranking information
2. First-round offers - students who score high enough receive an offer from their highest available preference school
3. Accept or decline - families have a set period (usually two weeks) to accept or decline the offer
4. Second-round offers - declined places are offered to the next eligible students. This process can continue through multiple rounds

For a detailed explanation of how scoring works, read our scores and results guide. For the full exam format breakdown, see our exam format guide.